Student seeks court order to don eagle feather at graduation

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SUDHIN THANAWALA

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Native American student who sued his California school district because it's refusing to let him wear an eagle feather to his high school graduation asked a judge for an order permitting the sacred item.

The judge didn't rule on the case Tuesday and Christian Titman's lawyers and school officials were discussing possible resolutions but hadn't reached an agreement in a meeting that went into the evening, said Rebecca Farmer, a spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, one of the groups representing Titman.

Titman's lawyers argued in court that the student's rights to freedom of expression and religion in the state constitution are being violated.

Titman, 18, a member of the Pit River Tribe, said he wants to attach the 5-inch feather he received from his father to the tassel on his cap at the Clovis High School ceremony set for Thursday. Clovis is about 10 miles northeast of Fresno.

FULL story at link.



In this April 11, 2015 photo, Christian Titman with the Titman family representing the Miwok people dances during the Grand Entry at the 24th Fresno State First Nations Powwow held at Fresno State's O'Neill Park in Fresno, Calif. Titman sued his California school district on Monday, June 1, 2015, over its refusal to let him wear an eagle feather during his high school graduation ceremony, claiming his rights to freedom of expression and religion in the state constitution are being violated. (Eric Paul Zamora/The Fresno Bee via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/82db1cf5d67c408c95881c58ec642e72/student-seeks-court-order-don-eagle-feather-graduation

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Omaha just went through this too: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141097655

[jtuck004]

2. So when you murder 50 million of his ancestors, and then he has to beg a judge of your

courts on his knees for an order to respect him, this is American Exceptionalism?

This is important because it is school. For that we need need examples for his classmates, who probably don't have to beg for permission to wear their crosses or even carry their holy texts and such.

Thus, it may be hard to teach them American Exceptionalism. They will just have to keep acting like their parents.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Why is this a problem?

It is not disruptive, it is an expression of free speech, and it is a matter of religious freedom.

It is not commercial, it is not political, it is not hateful. What is the problem? Seems a no-brainer to me.

[sybylla]

4. I don't see how this is any different than wearing a cross or a hijab.

It's part of who he is religiously as well as a memorial to a person who cannot attend.

WTF is the school's problem?

[Taitertots]

5. Religious priviledge at work

Do they allow the same dress code deviations for non-religious clothing?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Update: Student to wear eagle feather at graduation after lawsuit

Student to wear eagle feather at graduation after lawsuit
BY SUDHIN THANAWALA, Associated Press | June 4, 2015 | Updated: June 4, 2015 4:44pm

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Native American student plans to wear an eagle feather to his high school graduation Thursday after resolving a court fight with a California school district over the sacred object.

Christian Titman sued the Clovis Unified School District this week, saying officials refused to let him attach a 5-inch feather to the tassel on his graduation cap during the ceremony at Clovis High School, about 10 miles northeast of Fresno.

The 18-year-old is a member of the Pit River Tribe, which considers eagle feathers sacred and symbolic of a significant accomplishment.

District officials said they have a strict graduation dress code and previously refused to allow stoles, leis, rosaries and necklaces on caps and gowns.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Student-to-wear-eagle-feather-at-graduation-after-6307249.php